If you’re a fan of MMA or UFC, you must be itching to learn Muay Thai kickboxing yourself. It might seem intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it, you’ll easily be able to master pro moves! So, here is a quick but comprehensive guide to Muay Thai for beginners to get you started.

What is Muay Thai?

Also known as the “art of eight limbs”, Muay Thai originated in Thailand in the 16th century. It was developed as a form of combat training. Although it is Thailand’s national sport, it is widely popular and practiced all over the world. 

 

In essence, Muay Thai kickboxing is a stand-up combat sport that makes use of fists, elbows, knees, shins, etc combined. Most practitioners play it as a competitive sport and compete in official matches, however, it is also practiced as a way to improve oneself and achieve physical fitness. 

Is Muay Thai for Beginners?

Yes, Muay Thai is completely beginner-friendly. Children can start as early as 6 years old. There is no entry barrier. Kids, Teens, adults, women, and even elderly people can train in this martial art. Muay Thai gyms in Canada offer various classes and training regimes for students of all ages, so finding a good Muay Thai gym for Beginners in Toronto shouldn’t pose any problems.

8 Basic Muay Thai Training Moves You Need to Get Started

These are the most common moves you’ll see in Muay Thai matches. Beginners should familiarize themselves with these attacks if they are interested in learning this sport.

• Punches – one of the fundamental boxing moves, fighters can use different types of punches during the match such as the jab, cross, hook, uppercut, etc.

• Elbows – elbow strikes such as upward elbow, horizontal elbow, spinning elbow, etc deal a good deal of damage too.

• Knees – you can also use your knees to attack your opponent.

• Kicks – similarly, you can expect to see various forms of kicks in Muay Thai as well, e.g. low kick, body kick, switch kick, head kick, and more.

• The Clinch – Clinching is a grappling technique used in various mixed martial arts and it is one of the most important moves in Muay Thai that allows you to control and wear your opponent down.

• Stance & Footwork – Your instructor will teach you the right fighting stance and correct posture during initial classes.

• Defense Techniques – vital defense techniques are just as important as offensive techniques in Muay Thai Kickboxing.

• Combo Strikes – fighters combine all the above-mentioned moves to diversify their attacks. Some combos are more difficult than others however there are plenty of beginner Muay Thai combos such as jab-straight-low kick that work for everyone!

Muay Thai Rules and Ranking System

Here are some general Muay Thai rules and info you should know about.

Rules:

• Weight Classes – During professional & training matches, it is common to pair people of similar weight classes together to ensure a fair match.

• Attire – There’s no traditional uniform in Muay Thai unlike Karate or Taekwondo however, fighters must wear shorts, gloves, and a mouthguard during a fight.

• Foul – Unsuportsman-like conduct such as biting, headbutting, and going against traditional Muay Thai rules will get you a foul and perhaps even disqualification from a match.

• Scoring – Strikes are scored based on their effectiveness. The fighter will the most number of effective strike wins the round.

• Knockout – Competitors can also win by knocking their opponents out.

Rankings in Muay Thai 

Unlike certain other martial arts, there is no belt system that indicates rank in Muay Thai. Meaning, fighters can pair off randomly and can compete with anyone. However, that doesn’t mean beginners and experts are equal. Indeed, a ranking system is in place for professional competitions that rank fighters based on their competence and skill level.

Similarly, the Kru Muay Thai Association and the Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts recently developed a grading system for Muay Thai fighters. According to this, there are a total of 10 ranks called “Khans” that students must complete in order to be considered experts. Furthermore, they have to complete and pass another 9 levels if they wish to become Muay Thai instructors. 

Is Muay Thai Dangerous?

Just like any other martial arts or combat sports, Muay Thai does pose certain risks for beginners. Knee strikes, kicks, and punches can all hurt you pretty badly. Plus, there’s an added risk of ankle sprains due to wrong footwork, etc. That’s why, it is super important to train under an experienced instructor in a well-maintained facility. A good instructor will guide you step-by-step in every move so that you can protect yourself and don’t harm your opponent. This way, you can minimize the risks of serious injuries.

Top 5 Benefits of Muay Thai Kickboxing Training

Muay Thai Training has tons of benefits for all its practitioners irrespective of their age and gender. As if you needed any more convincing to try this sport, here are some advantages of Muay Thai that will motivate you further:

• Helps you lose weight and improve overall physical fitness. It builds muscles quickly that make your body strong.
• Has tremendous positive effects on your mental health. It increases your dopamine levels which makes you happier and lower stress & anxiety.
• Improves mind-body coordination and makes you more alert and agile.
• Boosts self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Teaches you self-defense so that you are able to fight back & defend yourself in case of sudden attacks. 

Obviously, there are more benefits of Muay Thai for beginners which you will only be able to experience once you have trained in this martial arts directly.

How to Prepare for Your First Muay Thai Class?

Some people like jumping right in a Muay Thai class for beginners while others like doing prep work first. It is likely that your trainer will instruct you to do some cardio and run laps in order to prepare your body before the actual combat. That’s why, here are some ways you can prepare for your first Muay Thai class and get good at it quickly:

• Run laps every day and do other cardio exercises to strengthen your body before jumping in extreme combat training.
• Build your core muscle strength by lifting weights.
• Research all your options for Muay Thai gyms near you. Choose one that specifically offers classes for beginners. 
• Moreover, make sure your gym is not too far away from your home otherwise you might lose motivation to go there every day.
• Get yourself familiar with the sport and specific moves by watching movies or UFC fighting championship or Mixed Martial Arts videos. That way, you’ll have some idea about what to expect.
• Take care of your diet and hydration! You must eat healthily and drink a lot of water if you want your body to adjust to this extreme sport.

 

Conclusion

Now that you have all the preliminary information you need, it’s time to get started on your Muay Thai training for beginners!